E-Malt.com News article: 1627

Adolph Coors Co., the third-largest U.S. brewer, may start selling a low-carbohydrate beer in February to tap the growing market of health-conscious beer drinkers, UBS Securities analyst Caroline Levy wrote in a research report. Coors may test the beer during the fourth quarter in the U.S.

Southeast, where retailers are reserving shelf space for the new product, Levy wrote. Golden-based Coors, which trails Anheuser-Busch Cos. and Miller Brewing, has been trying to boost sales of its lower-calorie beers such as Coors Light.
Anheuser-Busch has had success with its low-carbohydrate beer, Michelob Ultra, which sells for more than the company"s main Budweiser brands. SABMiller Plc, which last year bought Miller Brewing, also may be considering adding a low-carbohydrate beer, Levy wrote.
Michelob Ultra "has been doing phenomenally well," said Harry Schuhmacher, editor and publisher of Beer Business Daily.
"Other brewers want to get in on that action."
Coors spokeswoman Aimee Valdez didn"t immediately respond to a voice mail left at her office.
Some dietary experts advocate cutting back on carbohydrates, or foods that include starches and sugars, as a way to lose weight. Anheuser-Busch introduced Michelob Ultra a year ago, saying it only had 2.6 grams of carbohydrates per 12-ounce serving.
The amount of carbohydrates in Michelob Ultra is slightly less than the 3.2 grams Miller says are in its Miller Lite beer.
Anheuser-Busch was able to market the new beverage as a lifestyle product - a beer for people who work out, Schuhmacher said.


03 October, 2003